Come to a pretty pass

Meaning

The idiom "come to a pretty pass" means to reach a difficult or unpleasant situation that requires action or decision-making, often resulting in negative consequences. It can also mean reaching a state of desperation or hopelessness, and a lack of options or resources.

Usage

• "I'm afraid my car has come to a pretty pass, and I don't know how I'll make it to the meeting on time."
• "After months of trying to save their failing business, the owners finally admitted that they had come to a pretty pass and declared bankruptcy."
• "The hurricane hit our small town hard, leaving many families without homes or livelihoods. They've come to a pretty pass, indeed."
• "When my best friend's relationship came to a pretty pass, I was there for her every step of the way."
• "I never thought I'd need to use my emergency fund, but after losing my job due to COVID-19, I found myself coming to a pretty pass."

Roots and History

The idiom "come to a pretty pass" is an old English expression that dates back to the Middle Ages. It originally meant "to end up in a bad state or condition," often referring to death or other extreme circumstances. Over time, the meaning of the phrase has shifted to refer more generally to any situation that requires action or decision-making, and highlights the difficulty or lack of options involved.

Synonyms in English

• "find oneself in a tough spot"
• "hit rock bottom"
• "reach a crisis point"
• "run out of options"
• "hit a wall"

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "encontrarse en una situación difícil"
• French: "être à la merci des circonstances"
• German: "in eine schwierige Lage kommen"
• Italian: "essersi trovare in un momento difficile"
• Japanese: "困難な状態に来る"

Similar Idioms

• chill to the bone

• cash in

• change of heart